For all of last week, I covered an 11th grade English class. They're in the midst of reading The Catcher in the Rye.
Tuesday (or day 2) they had a quiz on the first 11 chapters of the novel. After they finished the quiz, they were to spend the rest of the period reading, either Catcher or a novel of their own choosing.
Oh, how they whined!
Much of the class had finished the quiz. And I was doing my usual continual shushing. Because they weren't reading. Like they were supposed to be. I stood over one boy...
"I'm sick of reading..."
Sick of reading? How does one get sick of reading? I can understand how one can get sick of reading the book you have in front of you, but there were other books to choose from.
Me: "You're telling this to someone who has been known to stay up until 4 AM because she can't bear to put down a book. I have no sympathy."
Because, if they had been reading quietly, like they were supposed to be doing, I totally could have pulled out a book of my own and been reading along with them. But nooooo. Nope, I had to pay attention and police them.
Oh, to have days where the only thing on the agenda is to read. Deep sigh.
Are you reading anything good at the moment? What is the latest you've ever stayed up because you couldn't put a book down? Or, do you agree with the student--you do get sick of reading?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
I don't know if I would call it "sick" or reading, but sometimes I've gotten "tired" of reading, especially if it is something I don't really want to be reading. However, I too have been known to stay up late (but not that late like you) because I couldn't put the book down :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Yeah, I know that feeling. The boy's comment actually came after he had complained about his book and I told him to get another. Because they weren't limited to reading one thing. So, he totally could have picked out something else that he enjoyed. Hence, my lack of sympathy.
DeleteI have a weird habit of reading cookbooks when my head is so full of other stuff that I can't focus. I just read David Lebovitz's My Paris Kitchen and it was wonderful.
ReplyDelete@Kathleen01930
Meet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge
Dumbledore liked knitting patterns... Whatever works, really.
DeleteI used to stay up reading late all the time. Force myself through just one more chapter. I can't do that anymore. Must be age!! Right now I am reading Gone With the Wind. Pretty interesting so far! Such a long book!!
ReplyDeleteIt's getting harder and harder for me to do. Which I think is a good thing. I used to not be able to fall asleep at night. Now I can.
DeleteI'm not sure I'll ever be sick of reading. It's a foreign concept to me. There are multiple nights when I don't go to bed at all, but stay up to read instead.
ReplyDeleteNot reading anything at the moment; I'm between books, but I have a new title all picked out.
I love to read, but due to vision problems, really can't any more
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. Have you tried audiobooks?
DeleteTheir parents really need to slap them from time to time when they talk like this. My kids nor students would never dare such a thing, not even think it. You must demand respect from them with your posture and attitude. If you allow them to say whatever they will behave whatever too
ReplyDeleteThat's HORRIBLE! These are children! They do not deserve to be hit for arguing or being disobedient! They're allowed to have their own opinions whether they say them out loud or not! And allowing them to do so does not mean they will be disobedient monsters! It teaches them to be able to think and act for themselves!
DeleteYeah....I'm not sure I'm an advocate of the "smack 'em around" philosophy, either.
DeleteOne gets sick of reading when one reads Catcher in the Rye. If you're ever tired but just can't put down a book, read a page from it. It will put you right off books every time.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably those specific books that don't interest them. I'm a firm believer that there is a book out there that will make even a non-reader enjoy. They just have to find one that appeals to them.
ReplyDeleteI left out the prelim to this story. The boy complained about his book. I told him to get another. Because I do know that some books just aren't all that great. It was then that he said he was sick of reading. All books. Hence my response.
DeleteAhhh *nods*
DeleteI have never gotten sick of reading. Reading a particular book, yes. Reading, no. Not. Ever. I wouldn't have any sympathy, either. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
DeleteI'm a stay up late reading person, too, so I had to switch to nonfiction at night. It's easier to put down.
ReplyDeleteI might have to try... No. Not gonna do it. I need my nonfiction for when I'm out in public.
DeleteWhen I lived in colder climates I would volunteer at cold weather shelters and pretty much spend the night reading
ReplyDeleteOh, what a great story.
DeleteWhen we got cold, we'd burn books to keep warm. Oops, that was just at party rallies.
DeleteJUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING!!
In school, I can't remember required reading being a joy. Finally, in college, I did enjoy some of the books I had to read quite enjoyable...to my surprise.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
Margaret’s Musings
Yeah, some of the books aren't all that great. I did enjoy some, though.
DeleteI've gotten into the habit of listening to books instead of reading. I can do that and knit at the same time. Right now I am on the third book of the four books series Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante.
ReplyDeleteIf the boy had been reading King's SALEMS LOT, he would have understood what you were saying! :-) Like lyndagrace, I listen to most of my books now while I do my rare blood runs. One dark and stormy night, I listened to most of the chilling FEAR NOTHING by Dean Koontz -- which would have been another book I bet he could not have put down. :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah. But try telling them that.
DeleteI never get sick of reading, but when you are in school and are forced to read what is chosen for you it is another story. Thank you for the kind words you left on my blog about Spooky.
ReplyDeleteBut they had free reading time. They could pick any book they liked.
DeleteI never read Catcher in the rye. But I saw a documentary JD Salinger and what strange man.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
It's a strange book. What I've read of it (which, admittedly, isn't much).
DeleteWhen I did student teaching with 2nd graders, some of them would get fidgety during D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) time, but they usually stayed quiet. I need to take more D.E.A.R. time, maybe after the challenge. I have stayed up late with many books. Even when I was a kid, I would sneak out of bed and hunch over next to my nightlight to read. My mom told me I could get blurry vision from doing that, I think she was wrong :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the high schools did DEAR for a while. Unmitigated disaster.
DeleteSometimes if I'm feeling hyped up I can't focus enough to read. That's when I do crosswords. I find crosswords to be the most relaxing thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteThat's nice.
DeleteI usually like to read non-fiction (e.g., I'm reading a book on ancient history now...enter nerd, huh?). Although, I enjoy Follett, Clancy, King, and the Game of Thrones books.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the class, good grief, if I was given the option to read...but that's what separates us from goofy teenagers, huh?
I used to love reading time. Still love reading time!
ReplyDeleteYes! I love reading and you are right I do not understand those that whine and complain because they don't like reading, or they hate to read. I wish I had time to read right now. I picked up some books from the library last night. I am hopeful that I will get to at least one of them in the next couple of days. My last book was I AM Malala! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteMy belief is they just haven't found the thing they like to read. I've tried telling them this, but they don't listen.
DeleteThis is another book I missed out on. I was into massive tomes when I was younger. Stuff like Tom Jones and Three Musketeers. Reading that wasn't assigned I mean.
ReplyDeleteBetween you and Lidy, I've come to the realization that I need to expand my reading material. :D
I never get tired of reading. I read all kinds of books from psychological and crime thrillers to biographies and more literary novels. I have just finished The Universe Versus Alex Woods (highly recommended). Favourite books include Memoirs of a Geisha, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, In Cold Blood, Wolf Hall and The Invention of Wings. Better stop now - I seem to be going on a bit!
ReplyDeleteThat's Purrfect
There's always something cool to read if you keep your eye out for it.
DeleteI see some good titles here. Thanks for sparking the discussion! I'm not really reading anything but blogs lately. ~grin~
ReplyDeleteAwakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
Happy blogging!
Same here, seems like
DeleteI've read some good books lately, and I've read some that served better as doorstops.
ReplyDeleteMary
#AtoZChallenge R is for Reba
Ah, yes, I know the feeling. The book I read last night, for example.
DeleteI don't get sick of reading. I read a lot of different genres. And yes I have stayed up late reading a book many times. I am reading two books right now as I read a paperback and one on my kindle app. I'm almost done reading the 2nd book in the Game of Thrones series by George R R Martin. ~Meg Writer‘s Crossings
ReplyDeleteChanging things up helps with the boredom factor. Although, I don't know that there is a boredom factor, really.
DeleteTotally with you on this - reading is a treat, not a punishment! Especially when they were free to read anything not just the assigned book
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Yeah. I so wanted to bring a book for myself.
DeleteI am reading something on John Wayne right now but I can't stay up, I naturally fall asleep and literally my head will hit the book
ReplyDeleteWell, sometimes you really do need to sleep.
DeleteI remember reading Catcher in the Rye when I was in high school. I liked that book. I also remember reading other books in school I didn't enjoy so much so I can understand why some people would claim to be "sick of reading." The cure: Read a book of one's choice strictly for pleasure.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Which is what I told him. That's why he claimed he was "sick" of reading.
DeleteAck! Well hopefully he learns the error of his ways. lol
ReplyDelete